Working but poor: millions in work and in poverty

The government says the best way out of poverty is to work. But for millions of employed people in the UK, it’s just not enough.

Inflation rates are slowly improving but real-term wages and benefits aren’t keeping up.

The number of working adults living in poverty has risen 56% in 25 years - and many of them think the government isn’t listening.

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Reported by Milena Dambelli
Filmed and edited by Samantha Everett
Produced by Annie La Vespa

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[Cherry-mbxs]

Nobody who works 5 days a week, should be struggling it’s disgusting!

[artlover]

Working full time but not being able to afford basic necessities isn't working, it's slavery.

[alpenhuhn]

When I lived in London for 4 years, everybody was so posh and wanted to get on the 'property ladder ' . I left after 4 years. You work and you dont get anywhere !

[peacebeyondpassion]

I'm in the U.S. and hardly ever turn on the heat unless it's just unbearable. And only because my grands live with us, If not for them it would always be off. Electricity of course has gone up ridiculously. I cut costs in every way possible. No cell phone (still have a landline) no new clothes, shop at dollar stores, thrift stores, cook at home, do my own hair, nails, and grooming. We have learned to enjoy the simple things in life. When you look at things that way, we are truly blessed.

[xgtdgge]

‘To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all’ - Oscar Wilde

[mrpeterson]

This is why you have a mental health crisis. The vast majority of people are like whats the fking point anymore 😂

[carolxd]

I'm a 23 y.o nurse living in the Netherlands (originally from Portugal). I am now renting my own place (that can suit 2 people but the landlord only accepts 1 person to live here). I could NEVER be financially independent at this age in Portugal (and specially being single). But seeing housing prices here getting higher, I’m starting to panic because how will I ever be able to buy an house independently? In any country really? I can’t stay in this apartment forever.
Adult life is getting more difficult by the day… I’m scared of the future.

[mikofi]

I remember my childhood in Poland looked exactly like this. People were working but many didn’t have enough money for a decent life. It’s very sad to see that the same situation is taking place in countries that for most of my life I considered rich and with higher life standard.

[sir_christmas_leopold_duckson]

Personally, if it weren't for my dad, I'd be homeless.

[annwarren]

What makes my blood boil, is that the minimum wage goes up, then guess what! All the household bills go up AT THE SAME TIME! So how are we benefiting from it! The government doesn’t say that, do they!

[OskariMottola]

*I was homeless, got into drug's went to prison and then I got to know Jesus and he changed my life...Heaven came through for me in my finances too, getting $50, 000 in 2months . I can support God's work and give back to my community. God is absolutely more than enough! Now I have a new identity and a child of God*

[JakobLarsen]

*Nobody becomes a millionaire or billionaire by working for others and depending on them good investment brings millions of dollars and consistency brings billions, bought my first house last week I'm glad I made a productive decision that has changed my life forever*

[khadsykoo]

The money is being redirected to the wrong places: MPs salary, illegal arms, and wasteful spending

[mnaveed]

I thought 🤔 it was only me, but millions of us working and don't have anything left at the end of the month

[DennisJack-kmho]

The U.S. economy can actually get better if only the govt can start making better decisions for the sake of it's citizens, cos' they've really made life more difficult for its residents. Hyperinflation has left the less haves bearing the brunt of the burden. Its already eating into my entire $620k retirement portfolio. Like where else can we invest our money with less risks?

[erickson]

The wages we received is not enough to settle our expenses, we keep killing our self on salary putting hope on pension to take care of our self at old age it's not fair.

[HmmM-wndx]

I work 5 days a week but cannot afford a studio flat let alone decent one bed. Everyone deserves a privacy! UK became one giant crumbling house with a cruel landlord.

[elizabethabele]

Disgusting that normal hard working people who live in a wealthy country such as the UK, have to live like this.

[MR-dgsn]

In the UK, people are penalized for working by paying more tax and we're never entitled to any government assistance schemes.
The NHS issues a useless blue card that hardly anyone accepts they send you stupid discount codes that never works.
Most of our pay disappears before we even see it.
Those who don't work or work part-time often fare better than full-time workers because we pay more taxes but receive no government support and are never entitled to anything. Due to household income thresholds, we don't qualify for anything.
We receive no assistance or funds. I've tried to find schemes we're entitled to, but there's nothing available. National insurance rates are too high, and I don't even have time to see my GP, and when I do, it's never the actual GP I see. The service we get from. NHS is so poor. Why cant i just save the money i am paying to NI and pay for myown health service myself when i need it and get a good care!
They make us beg for the service we are getting like its free, its not actually we have paid for it!
We have to pay for everything. Council taxes are exorbitant, and the roads are filthy and the crime rate is so high. When our cars are stolen, the police merely provide a reference number, and our insurance premiums skyrocket when we try to renew. Driving even slightly above the 30 mph limit on roads feels like a criminal offense, and the police seem more focused on penalizing drivers than focusing on actual criminal.

In the UK, hardworking individuals are punished for paying taxes and receive no benefits or support from the police, NHS, or local council despite contributing. It's absurd, and I don't see how it will improve when those in power don't seem to care.
When you are stressed out from all of the above they say lets concentrate on mental health and well-being!!
Its a joke! Millions has gone into this rediculous scheme to get you to speak to someone that can not and does not have any power to help you. They are sitting there for you to TALK!
I call this modern SLAVERY.

[finanzferdinand]

Weve all been conned into thinking there is a corporate ladder to climb, when it dosnt exist for the vast majority